Wave hope run continues out west

Youth team preparing to go national this week

BERNARDO FALLAS, Copyright 2005 Houston Chronicle

Published 5:30 am, Tuesday, June 14, 2005

They call themselves a goofy bunch. Their offense, nicknamed the "Tripod," celebrates a score by flashing sisterly triangles with their hands and follows that with multiple hugs and a huddle. They josh each other over who does the best Britney Spears impersonation. They joke around, laugh out loud and have fun.

But when it's game time, they're all business.

They are the Texas Wave 90, winners of the girls division of the local Copa Coca-Cola tournament held in April at Cullen Park and bound to represent Houston at the Copa's 10-team national tournament this week in Carson, Calif.

"We've been practicing really hard," said captain Emily Brzuzy. "And our team is goofy, and that also helps us. That's how we are, but it helps us work hard at practice and have fun. We have great chemistry."

The team is a close-knit group of 14- and 15-year-olds, 16 in all, mostly from Kingwood and Humble — with two making the long commute from Huffman and Beaumont. Most have been playing together since elementary school.

"The kids are a good group," coach Tammy Lawrence said. "They work hard, they play hard, and we see this, by them winning the (local) tournament, as a reward."

Barely done with ninth grade, players such as twins Natasha and Kaveeta Marwaha make their rounds in junior varsity for their high schools as well as the club level with the Texas Heat Wave Soccer Club. Although the Wave did well in club competition, players say little compares to the chance to travel and play some of the country's best under-15 teams.

"We've never had something this exciting ever happen," Natasha said. "I think that we have a very good chance, because the team is pretty serious."

The Wave were set to depart today for Los Angeles. The team will face the San Jose, San Diego and Washington D.C. squads Wednesday in group play at the Home Depot Center. The semifinals will be that evening and the final is on Thursday. Games will consist of two 20-minute halves.

The national champions will get to visit Disneyland and secure a berth in the international tournament, to be held in July at Orlando, Fla., with that winner enjoying a trip to Disneyworld. The Wave, of course, want to see Mickey Mouse twice.

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"We're not going all the way out there just to participate," Lawrence said. "We're going to play and win."